Best of 2005: Smartphone Manufacturer of the Year

[Kris Kumar]

This is an easy topic. We all know the winner. It is undoubtedly the Taiwan based High Tech Computer Corporation (HTC). They continued their trend of releasing the base Smartphone product platform and then having the carriers and the vendors re-brand them in various styles and under different names. The most notable product from HTC this year is the <a href="http://smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9122">HTC Tornado,</a> the Wi-Fi enabled Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone with QVGA screen and EDGE support. Equally notable is the HTC Faraday, the non Wi-Fi and <i>hump-enabled</i> cousin of HTC Tornado, marketed in the US as the Cingular 2125. :lol: It amazes me how HTC fulfills our gadget dreams, when other other established cell phone manufacturers like Samsung and Motorola take forever to launch their products. And when they do ship them, it is either outdated or buggy or in some cases both. :roll: <img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Kris-dec05-bestmanu.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> My question to our readers is - who should be tagged as the <b><i>worst</i></b> Smartphone manufacturer and <i>why?</i> You will notice that I have included Microsoft/Flextronics as an option in the polls for the worst manufacturer. Microsoft and Flextronics earlier in the year had announced the <a href="http://smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8606">Peabody platform</a> which was supposed to be the low-cost Smartphone for the masses which never materialized, hence they get a seat in this poll. ;-)

[Janak Parekh]

In Samsung's defense, the lack of a new Smartphone isn't its fault -- it's Verizon's, who rejected the i640. (That said, maybe the i640 was a piece of crap and that's why Verizon rejected it. Nah, we're talking about Verizon here. ;))

--janak

[Kris Kumar]

Over-ruled! Samsung delivered the i300 Smartphone with outdated OS.

[Janak Parekh]

Over-ruled! Samsung delivered the i300 Smartphone with outdated OS.
Oh, right. Forgot about that one. :P Still, if you've held the device, it almost makes up for it. That scroll wheel is sweet.

--janak

[shindullin]

Was the samsung released the i300 w an outdated os because Samsung developed it late or because Verizon resisted releasing it for whatever internal reason? From my non-empirical obervations on HowardForums, it seems that a lot of the delays in the release pipeline are caused by the service providers.

[rzanology]

god damn mpx!!! how could you be so pretty and not work?!?!?!


you broke my heart motorola.....you brooke my heart!

[exchguy]

From a Smartphone perspective, I'd agree that the Tornado class device was probably the best thing produced by HTC this year.


However, from an overall perspective the HTC Universal was the best thing. The Tornado, while nice really was not a total shift from the Typhoon. You can point to a better screen, new OS, EDGE, and better camera, but other than those things it is pretty much the same as the Typhoon was. The Universal was really something new and different from other Pocket PC phone devices, albeit a larger Pocket PC Phone class device.

[Rebecca]

I wonder wha't Jerry's opinion on this subject. :lol:

[surfer]

I don't think I can vote on this since i've only had one smartphone and that's my mpx220 and I LOVE IT :)

[xultar]

OK Evidentally I've been the one smoking crack!!!!! :D

[Jerry Raia]

I wonder wha't Jerry's opinion on this subject. :lol:

This is such a tough one for me. I agonized for nano seconds over it. 2 or 3 at least. This was the hardest call I have ever had to make. I'm sorry though I am keeping my vote a secret. 8)

[Kris Kumar]

Was the samsung released the i300 w an outdated os because Samsung developed it late or because Verizon resisted releasing it for whatever internal reason? From my non-empirical obervations on HowardForums, it seems that a lot of the delays in the release pipeline are caused by the service providers.

You are right usually the carriers are the ones who cause the biggest headache.

The thing that amazes me is that if HTC can be in-line with Microsoft's Windows Mobile roadmap and develop products to match the Windows Mobile timeline. Then how come the big names are not able to do the same.

Working for a big name company myself, I know the amount of clout we have in terms of being on the early betas etc. And even if you are not a big name company, Microsoft is pretty open about the beta programs.

I think Samsung definitely missed the ball with the i300.

[Kris Kumar]

I wonder wha't Jerry's opinion on this subject. :lol:

This is such a tough one for me. I agonized for nano seconds over it. 2 or 3 at least. This was the hardest call I have ever had to make. I'm sorry though I am keeping my vote a secret. 8)

Why do I get the feeling that Motorola's gift packets finally got delivered at Jerry's place. :lol:

[encece]

I vote for Sierra Wireless.

[Sven Johannsen]

I vote for Sierra Wireless.
I think I'd second that. I had a VOQ, for about a day. Unbelievable how big that thing was. If it was SMT sized or even a bit bigger, it could have been great.

[Kris Kumar]

I vote for Sierra Wireless.

Sierra Wireless..who.. :lol:

We don't want to have deserters on our worst list. :D

Actually I totally forgot about them. :oops: Mike did remind me. :twak: But since, Sierra had pulled out of the Smartphone club altogether. I decided to let them go free. Plus they did not commit or launch any new products this year. ;-)

[Jerry Raia]

Why do I get the feeling that Motorola's gift packets finally got delivered at Jerry's place. :lol:

They didn't even wrap it! :lol:

[Kris Kumar]

I am a little surprised why Motorola is getting beaten up in the polls? I would have expected Samsung to have shared some of the pain. But the majority is going after Motorola, why?

This year they launched only one product, the Nextel i930, which I agree has an outdated OS. But having played with it. I think I know why Motorola stuck with the older OS. (Though I don't know why it took them so long to get the i930 out the door). The Nextel i930 has a lot of cool customizations, the big external external screen is put to some good use and it also has extra buttons which required special handling. Compared to the MPx220, the i930 is much much better (though the application lock is bad, but then it is something that Nextel asked for).

So why is Motorola getting beaten up so much in the polls? Can we have some answers. (Just in case a friend of Jerry's at Motorola is reading this thread, they would get some answers) :-)

[Janak Parekh]

This year they launched only one product, the Nextel i930, which I agree has an outdated OS. But having played with it. I think I know why Motorola stuck with the older OS. (Though I don't know why it took them so long to get the i930 out the door). The Nextel i930 has a lot of cool customizations, the big external external screen is put to some good use and it also has extra buttons which required special handling.
You make some interesting points, but I'll turn them around: why not apply the same reasoning about sticking with the older OS to the i300? And, at least Samsung pushed the envelope by integrating a HDD. Finally, I'm guessing the readership buys Jerry's Moto rants. :P

--janak

[Jerry Raia]

This year they launched only one product, the Nextel i930, which I agree has an outdated OS. But having played with it. I think I know why Motorola stuck with the older OS. (Though I don't know why it took them so long to get the i930 out the door). The Nextel i930 has a lot of cool customizations, the big external external screen is put to some good use and it also has extra buttons which required special handling.
You make some interesting points, but I'll turn them around: why not apply the same reasoning about sticking with the older OS to the i300? And, at least Samsung pushed the envelope by integrating a HDD. Finally, I'm guessing the readership buys Jerry's Moto rants. :P

--janak

Rants? RANTS? I'll have you know I never rant....much. To be serious though for only a moment. One has to admit that Samsung makes a good product. The quality is evident. Even if you quip about missing features etc. Moto makes junky phones these days. It's like they don't care, just crank em out. The i600 was well made, no question. The MPx220 was not.

[Kris Kumar]

I was not trying to take Motorola's side. :oops: Nor was I trying to say that Samsung's i300 is a lame product. I feel both Motorola and Samsung did terribly this year. But how come Motorola is feeling the heat in the polls? :?

And if Jerry's rants are influencing our readers. Jerry what are you doing on Smartphone Thoughts? Go run for a political office. :lol:

[Kris Kumar]

The only reason why I brought out the i930 angle was because Samsung's i300 HDD innovation is well known. More than the i930. :wink: And frankly I am not too impressed with the HDD innovation.

Frankly it sounds like Samsung was impressed by the Hitachi HDD "bling" (http://www.hitachigst.com/portal/site/en/menuitem.fe21afe66959f26ed2e821f0eac4f0a0/) commercial. :lol:

[Kris Kumar]

... The quality is evident. Even if you quip about missing features etc. Moto makes junky phones these days. It's like they don't care, just crank em out. The i600 was well made, no question. The MPx220 was not.

Thank you. That is the kind of answer I was looking for I guess. I haven't played with the i600 or the i300. So don't know that.

[Jerry Raia]

Jerry what are you doing on Smartphone Thoughts? Go run for a political office. :lol:

Now there is an idea! :lol:

[Mike Temporale]

The i300 is a solid device, and the scroll wheel is very nice. If it wasn't for the OS, it would be a sure fire hit. Samsung built a good phone. They just messed up the OS.

Moto, built a horrible phone, and loaded the right OS - even if they messed that up too. ;)

[robertotores]

Not all Motorola Phones are bad.

I have played witht Jerry's favorite (RAZR), and I consider it is a great "dumpphone".

Solid built, very loud speakerphone and clear audio, flat keyboard, great reception thanks to having the whole battery cover as an antenna instead of an ugly hump. Also it has long range bluethoot and an incredibly cool styling. The only problem it the low memory and not having WM.

Also altoght the OS is simple it plays freakin Age of Empires and Prince of Persia in Java wich look IMHO better than the games available for WM smartphone.


I know motorola can make a great smartphone if they want. They only have to take the upcomming Vx3 ( http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/product/details/0,,95,00.html )
and load WM on it. That would make an excellent Smartphone.

Note that altoght the RZAR is a good phone the MPX 220 is a very bad crapphone (I would call it another category of phone since it has a hump but I don't want to pay Rebecca for trademarks :wink: ).

Also I voted Motorola the worst smartphone mannufacturer since their MPX 220 has caused the most troble and even was cancelled by Cingular.

[Kris Kumar]

Moto, built a horrible phone, and loaded the right OS - even if they messed that up too. ;)

:rotfl:

[Kris Kumar]

At this point, after reading the comments, I am glad that Moto Q is launching on the VZ network. At least I won't be tempted to buy one. ;-)

[thefunkunfaked]

I could give Motorola the award for worst, based solely on the poorly designed piece of junk proprietary charging connectors that they put on the majority of their phones. :roll:

Even the Motorola Q doesn't and wouldn't appeal to me, unless it was presented by another manufacturer that actually put time and dedicated effort into technology &amp; design. :roll:

After my past experience with several Motorola mobile communication products, not just the MPX220, I'm no longer interested in what they have to offer. :D

[Jerry Raia]

Looks like Moto ran away with this one. WAY TO GO MOTO! :way to go: